The Peters Township school board on June 24 unanimously approved a budget for the 2019-20 school year that includes a 0.31-mill tax increase.
The $68.2 million budget will put millage at 13.50 mills, or about $1,350 on every $100,000 of assessed property value.
The tax increase is mainly prompted by the construction of the district’s new $95 million high school.
Starting with the previous school year and for a total of five years, the district will increase taxes by 0.31 mills each year to help offset the cost of the new building.
Additionally, the board voted to earmark approximately $8.5 million of the district’s fund balance to go toward future retirement expenses and future debt service obligations. The remaining fund balance is estimated at $2.4 million.
Roshelle Fennell of Reynolds Construction, the district’s construction management firm, updated the board on the progress of the high school construction.
She said exterior stud framing has begun and the rough-ins for the electric and plumbing have been installed in portions of the building. Exterior framing has begun and the brick is set to start on the academic wing soon.
Ms. Fennell said some of the work has been delayed due to the recent rainy weather, but the building is expected to be fully enclosed before winter.
In related business, the board approved several change orders for the high school project.
Included in the approved change orders was $8,500 to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Washington County Conservation District for inspection report requirements; $5,208 to Nello Construction to change door swings per state Department of Education requirements; $5,585 to Nello Construction to change the window frame sizes in a portion of the high school; $29,901 to Vrabel Plumbing Company to relocate the underground piping for rain conductors; $29,418 to Nello Construction to install waterproofing requirements in a portion of the natatorium; and $13,440 to Vrabel Plumbing to relocate the rain water conductor piping in the team rooms due to conflict with the chiller piping.
The board also approved a credit of $24,186 from Nello Construction to delete the access controls on the folding doors in the high school corridor.
Deana Carpenter, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
First Published: June 25, 2019, 2:24 p.m.
